New Derby ring road to be called Lara Croft Way

The new Derby inner city ring road is to be named the Lara Croft Way when it opens, following an overwhelming public vote.

The £36.2m stretch from Osmaston Road to Burton Road, will be named after the buxom archaeologist Lara Croft, as the Tomb Raider games were created by Core Design, which was based in Derby.

A staggering 89 percent of the 27,000 local votes decided that Lara was what they wanted from a ring road.

Derby Councillor Lucy Care, cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: “The vote really captured the imagination of people from across the world and, despite my lack of gaming knowledge, I accept that a majority of 89 percent for Lara Croft is too overwhelming to ignore.

“She was created in Derby and deserves to stand alongside some of the more traditional icons of the city.”

Sadly the Core Design studios were shut in 2006. However Lara went on to appear in two films, played by Angelina Jolie.